1. Animal Agriculture as Science

2. Student Objectives in Basic Science
Define science.
Explain how science has made the lives of people better.
Describe the concept of the scientific method.
Distinguish between basic and applied science.
Cite scientific discoveries that have made food better and less expensive for the consumer.
List the pharmaceuticals that are derived from animals.

3. Student Objectives in Agricultural Science
Explain why agriculture is a science.
Describe what is meant by the land grant concept.
Trace the history of the land grant institutions.
Discuss the advantages made by American agriculture during the twenty-first century.
Analyze how agricultural research has benefitted the consumer.
List the developments that have revolutionized animal agriculture.

4. Key Terms www.m-w.com LIST TWO LIST ONE Basic Agriculture Hormones
Domesticated
Scientific Method
Hypothesis
Experiment
Neutral
Tested
LIST TWO
Basic
Hormones
Applied
Omnivorous
Veal
Sires
Dams
Progeny

5. Science & Agriculture
Science, as defined by Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, is the study or theoretical explanation of natural phenomena.
Our environment is governed by natural laws, such as gravity and weather – as well as laws that support life.
Agriculture is the oldest and most important science!
The production of plants and animals for food and fiber; the provision of agricultural supplies and services; and the processing, marketing and distribution of agricultural products.
Everything directly or indirectly related to FOOD, FIBER and our NATURAL RESOURCES is… AGRICULTURE!!

6. Human History & Agriculture
The first humans studied the environment through survival – by finding food.
Undoubtedly, as food resources moved, humans studied the patterns and devised means to capture and hunt.
We eventually reasoned to domesticate animals, which eliminated the need to move with herds.
Through trial and error, we learned which ways to best care for animals and use them for food and fiber.
Only recently have we studied animals in a systematically. Progressive research began in the U.S. during the 1800’s – a curriculum known as the Classics.

7. Early Legislation
1862 – Land Grant Act (Morrill Act) is passed, providing public land and funds to establish universities to teach manufacturing and agriculture.
1862 – President Lincoln creates the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
1872 – Hatch Act established experiment stations to create new knowledge in agriculture via scientific investigations… the scientific method!
1914 – Smith-Lever Act sets up the Cooperative Extension Service, which serves to broadcast new information from research to the public.
1917 – Smith-Hughes Act establishes Vocational Agriculture classes in America’s High Schools – Agricultural Education!

8. What is the Scientific Method?
The Scientific Method is a systematic process of gaining knowledge through experimentation.
This method ensures that the results did not happen “by chance” and that something actually caused the change.
Involves a hypothesis and an experiment which will attempt to isolate the problem and determine a solution.
Experiments usually contain a control group (neutral) and experiment group (tested). Both are observed for comparison and contrast.

9. What are the Scientific Method Steps?
1. Recognize Problem
2. Develop Hypothesis
3. Design Experiment
4. Conduct Experiment
5. Collect Data
6. Analyze Data
7. Draw Conclusions
8. Make Recommendations
Prepare tickets for bucket of the 8 scientific method steps. Have enough for everybody – use chairs as “extras.”
Students pull ticket from bucket and must assemble with other students to form the scientific method.
Recognize Problem 2. Develop Hypothesis 3. Design Experiment 4. Conduct Experiment
5. Collect Data 6. Analyze Data 7. Draw Conclusions 8. Make Recommendations

10. Examples of Experiments in Animal Science
Would milking cows twice/day result in more milk vs. once/day?
What are behavioral differences between different breeds of dogs?
Do goldfish live longer in a tank or in a landscaping pond?
Do calves have a preference when eating from different colored bowls?
What the social interactions between animals such as goats?
Each example, during an actual experiment, includes information such as: who, what, where, when, why, how – plus the results!

11. “Do dogs favor their left or right paws?”
Who – Mr. Engel and several dogs from different species. Dogs must know basic commands (sit, stay, lay, etc.) To eliminate “by chance,” more than one dog per species must be observed.
What – Observation of possible favoritism of a dog’s use of its paws. Studying to see if they have a dominant side
Where – Dog owner’s home, to keep dog calm and in familiar surroundings.
When – At dog owner’s convenience, but owner must be home and observation of the entire group must be completed in short term – observe all dogs within 2 wks.

12. “Do dogs favor their left or right paws?”
Why – To determine if a dog has a dominant side, as humans do and if yes then which side do dogs prefer. In humans, more people are “right-handed” than “left- handed.”
How – Take 10 minutes to get to know dog. Then using verbal and non-verbal commands, instruct dog to “lay down.” Once dog has completed this task, place treat within paw distance of dog and encourage the dog to have the treat. Observe which paw dog uses to grab the treat.
How – Experiment can also study which paw(s) dogs use first to sit up and walk to treat, if treat was placed out of grabbing distance.

13. Student Learning Activity
Develop the Omega Chicken research study.
This study will be something that YOU actually do, so details are very important. Remember – we have partners who want to see results!
Summarize the research (who/what/where/when/why/how)
This chicken group will be the control. Spring’s flock is the tested group.
Data collection - production or weight; health or a combination?
How do you get feedback from a subject that doesn’t talk?
Submit to Animal Agriculture Drop-Box on my website!

14. Key Terms www.m-w.com LIST TWO LIST ONE Basic Agriculture Hormones
Domesticated
Scientific Method
Hypothesis
Experiment
Neutral
Tested
LIST TWO
Basic
Hormones
Applied
Omnivorous
Veal
Sires
Dams
Progeny

15. Basic Research vs. Applied Research
Investigation why or how processes occur in the bodies of animals.
Example: Discovering the specific hormones that control animal growth!
Using the discoveries of basic research to help in a practical manner.
Example: Using hormone information to develop ways to increase growth efficiency with hormones!

16. Benefits of Animal Science Research
Basic and applied research has benefitted humans in many ways – most obvious way… FOOD!
Since we’re omnivorous, we research in depth both plants and animals.
Advances in our food supplies create both an abundance of food and low food prices!
Specifically, our benefits in Animal Science include…

17. ... Advances in Food Production
Since 1925, beef cattle live-weight as increased from 220 pounds to 482 pounds – over twice as much BEEF!
Sheep, once raised for only wool, are now raised for mostly meat.
Dairy cow production has gone from 4,189# to over 20,625#
In 1925, there were twice as many cows as there is now.
Broilers required 112 days and 4.7# of food to make 2.5# meat.
Broilers now need 47 days and 1.92# of food to make 5.63# meat
Egg production has tripled, yet food requirements have HALVED!

18. … Advances in Immunization
Before late 1800’s: disease took out entire herds without prevention, vaccination or cures.
Louis Pasteur, using scientific method, proved that animals that survived a disease had built an immunity.
Using sheep that survived anthrax, he developed a vaccine that worked in his clinical trials on other sheep!
Research quickly took off to repeat this process on many different diseases, including those in humans!
Now, animals can be raised in disease-free environments at a much lower cost and much less risk!

19. … Refrigeration Prior to the 1880’s, keeping meat fresh was difficult.
Salting, drying or freezing winters were the only option.
To keep meat fresh, animals had to be killed near population centers.
This is why Chicago was once a major beef hub in the U.S.
Mechanical refrigeration was developed, then the refrigerated box car for trains.
Now, not only can animals be slaughtered at any time, but they can be stored for long periods of time AND be distributed to everyone in the country.

20. … Artificial Insemination & Embryo Transfer
The 1930’s invent of A.I. now allowed producers to transfer genes from superior sires – only possible with modern techniques in semen collection, storage and distribution.
Superior dams were once slow to advance, due to long gestation periods. With embryo transfer, the genetics of the superior females could now be transferred to other females to create many superior offspring in one year.
The combination of the two has make extremely rapid gains in the quality of the herds at relatively low costs!

21. … Pharmaceuticals
Until only recently, the only source of cortisone, an arthritis medication, was the gallbladders of cattle.
Early insulin medication came from the pancreas of a pig. Due to allergies, some diabetics still take hog insulin
Many hormones to treat various human disorders are derived from animals slaughtered for food use.
Research has also shown that using organs & tissues from animals to replace our own to be more beneficial than mechanical or man-made solutions.
Heart valves from pigs have been around for 20+ years
Skin tissue from pigs are being used on burn victims
Organ transplants are being developed as we speak!

23. Summary No branch of science touches our lives more than agriculture!
Agriculture has revolutionized our food, fuels, fibers, natural resources, our environment – everything!
While some other countries lead the way in electronics, automotives or manufacturing – nobody can touch U.S. AG!
Combined with our free enterprise system, agricultural research has made us the envy of the world in ag production!